The grumpy old man floor

Chapter 238

We all need to stay out of the emotional basement. Our mood elevator goes up and down constantly. But its all too easy, especially in these COVID-19 days, to spend all our time in the emotional basement. I feel like I spend more time in the basement that I do on the top floors. I want to move into the top floors permanently - experiencing life with a sense of humor, patience, hope, and gratitude. 

And I do experience these top floor feelings most days, but in fleeting moments here and there. I don’t experience them in a stead sustained sort of way that I want, and the world needs. Most people have constant feelings, and so if you and I aren’t having top floor feelings of humor, patience, hope and gratitude, then you and I are visiting another floor and other feelings are at play. If you make it to the basement then you are feeling depressed, stressed, anxious, and. judgmental.

Honestly I spend more time on the grumpy old man floor more than either of these highs and lows. While there is something to be said for the whole grumpy old man persona, its not a very pleasant place to stay. But my elevator stays here in these middle grumpy old man floors 80% of the time, and I touch the top and bottom floors about 10% of the day on a typical day. 

So I am writing about this emotional elevator in hopes that visualizing this metaphor will help me remember that I can choose which floors I am staying on and moving toward.

Remember and reach for the top floors throughout the day.